Library officials announced on Aug. 25 that Harry Bennett would begin operating from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays beginning Sept. 3. The branch was already open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“The donation was a gift from a library user who wishes to remain anonymous,” wrote Linda Avellar, director of development and communication for Ferguson.

Mayor David Martin and Ferguson Library President Alice Knapp praised the expansion of the branch’s hours.

“It is important to me that the city support our libraries win their mission of serving the community, in conjunction with other private and public funding,” Martin wrote in a prepared statement. “With this donation and others like it in the past, more people have an opportunity to access their library, which is great news.”

“Over the last two years, the Ferguson Library has been able to expand house and increase bookmobile service with increased funding from the city, and generous private gifts, including grants from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen and Velaj foundations,” said Knapp. “It is a joint private-public effort to restore Ferguson Library hours.”